Hundreds of residents of Agogo in the Asante Akyem North municipality of the Ashanti region yesterday embarked on a demonstration to press home their demand on government to flush out Fulani herdsmen in the area who have been accused of destroying farms and committing atrocities against the indigenes.
There has been a tense atmosphere in Agogo over activities of the nomads who are predominantly settlers.
According to the indigenes, the nomadic herdsmen graze their livestock on people’s farms, causing damage to the farms as well as engaging in the commission of crime including murder and rape.
According to them, thirty (30) of their compatriots have been murdered by Fulani herdsmen in the last two decades with five (5) of the killings taking place in the last two (2) years.
Numbering in hundreds, the protesters poured onto the streets to express their indignation at the failure of the authorities to carry out a court order, asking the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to flush out the herdsmen and their cattle from Agogo and its surrounding communities.
Clad in red and black attire to signal the seriousness of the situation, the youth of the town marched through the municipal capital displaying placards some of which read, “President Mahama Kasa” to wit, “Mr. President speak out,” Is cow precious than life?”Agogo is part of Ghana,” among others.
They catalogued what they said were illegal activities of the herdsmen, warning that the nomads were no longer welcomed on Agogo lands.
In a statement by the youth, they said the indigenes could no longer go to their farms even though the rainy season has set in because of the fear of being attacked by the Fulanis.
They said the latest threat is the “prowling armed Fulani bands that are shooting and killing farmers in the bush.”
And that in the past 14 months there have been no less than 14 attacks resulting in 5 deaths.
The statement added that some of the attacks occurred just on the outskirts of the Agogo town, where women and children had to abandon their properties and run home for their lives.
Farming being the main occupation of the people of Agogo and its adjoining towns, and being unable to go to farms for fear of Fulani attacks, the youth said they can imagine famine hitting the area soon, if nothing is done to avert the situation.
They therefore called on government to act swiftly to save people’s sources of livelihoods.
The youth indicated that they were not ready to cede any part of their lands to the Fulani herdsmen and therefore want them out of the area.
It will be recalled that the traditional authorities led by the Paramount Chief of the area, Nana Akuoko Sarpong, dragged the herdsmen to a Kumasi High Court on grounds that they had failed to comply fully with the terms of the agreement which regularised their stay in the area.
Per the agreement, the chief said the Fulani herdsmen were to construct Kraals for their herds and also to provide source of drinking water.
That was to ensure that the cattle do not move into unauthorised lands to destroy farmlands and water bodies.
The court subsequently instructed the removal of the herdsmen and their cattle from Agogo area.
But tension begun to mount after REGSEC failed to carry out the court order.
Upon incessant pressure by the indigenes, REGSEC subsequently jolted into action culminating into the launch of “OPERATION COW LEG” intended to flush out the cattle and their herders.
However, the operation fizzled out barely before it achieved its intended aim.
Since then there have been series of attacks and reprisals resulting in the killings of people.
For instance, three months ago the youth of the town placed a ban on the Fulanis whereby no indigene was to conduct any form of business with the nomads.
That action was intended to force them out of the area.
The resultant clashes forced some of the herdsmen and their cattle relocated after a team of military and police were dispatched to see to their eviction.
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